Average User Rating

The GoodSet-top box that plays Internet-delivered video content at resolutions up to full 1080p HD; solid selection of movies and TV shows, as well as adult content, for sale and rental; no monthly fees; standard-definition and some HD selections start immediately; excellent onscreen interface and scroll-wheel remote; simple setup and configuration.

The BadBest-quality HD content requires download queuing before viewing; can't stream media from networked PCs; can't transfer movies to portable devices for on-the-go viewing; no built-in Wi-Fi; rentals limited to 24-hour viewing period; impressive selection of titles still pales in comparison with the tens of thousands available from Netflix and Blockbuster; compatibility with universal remotes requires add-on dongle; box is worthless if company ever goes under.

The Bottom LineVudu sets itself apart from similar Internet video-on-demand boxes such as Apple and Netflix by delivering movies at better quality--up to full 1080p HD resolution and 5.1 surround sound.

Editors' Note, February 10, 2009: Vudu has cut the price of this product to $149.

When Vudu was first released in the fall of 2007, it was the first real
Internet video-on-demand box worthy of the name. Unlike previous
non-starters such as MovieBeam and Akimbo, Vudu offered a decent
selection of movies from all major studios--and, later, TV shows--for
instant on-demand viewing. Video quality was good to begin with (when
compared with other online video offerings); a later software upgrade
added HD video. Selections were available for purchase or rental, and
they could be ordered directly from the TV screen. Unfortunately for
Vudu, Apple updated its similar Apple
TV box just a few months later to co-opt nearly all of the
Vudu's once-unique features. The early 2008 "Apple TV Take 2"
upgrade added on-screen ordering (no need to sync with
computer-based iTunes libraries); HD video (and improved standard-definition
video); near-instant viewing for standard-def selections; and movie
selections from all major studios. Those upgrades were above and beyond
some advantages Apple TV already had over Vudu: a lower price, built-in
Wi-Fi, and the ability to stream photos and iTunes music and video files
from networked computers.

Still, Vudu hasn't been standing still. Even while it's struggled at
the corporate
level, Vudu has added TV shows and adult content to its
roster, as well as an accessory that adds wireless support. In
addition to HD downloads, the company also now has a bargain channel that
offers a rotating list of 99 movies for just a 99-cent rental. The
latest feature hitting the Vudu docket is "HDX
high-definition"--a selection of movies in 1080p HD
resolution and 5.1 surround sound. It remains to be seen whether or not
the improved video and audio quality will be enough to distinguish
Vudu--now available for $300--from its competitors. But for purists who
bemoan the lack of "true HD" from rival providers such as Apple,
Microsoft, Sony, and Netflix, the impressive picture quality offered by
Vudu's latest upgrade may be just what the doctor ordered. Sweetening
the deal is a $200 movie credit (when purchased at Best Buy before
December 31, 2008), bringing the effective cost of the box to just
$100.

Design
With its modest dimensions of 2.38 inches high by 8.88 inches wide by
7.25 inches deep, the Vudu BX100 box looks like a slightly oversize
Apple TV or Mac Mini--though it's thankfully finished in black, so it
won't clash with the rest of your home theater gear. Pick it up, and
you'll feel its 4.2-pound heft; it's densely packed with components,
including the 250GB hard drive. The front panel is barren, except for a
couple of indicator lights and the Vudu logo. The real action, of
course, is around back. The Vudu's rear panel includes every possible
output you'd want on a networked audio-visual device. HDMI and component
video outputs enable high-definition video output (you can specify 480i,
480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolutions), and--unlike the Apple TV--the
Vudu will also connect to older TVs via its composite and S-Video
outputs. Digital audio can be sent to compatible TVs or AV receivers via
HDMI, optical or coaxial jacks, and analog stereo RCA jacks are also
available. The Ethernet port provides network connectivity, and a USB
port is available for future expansion (a second USB port resides on the
left-hand side).

The Vudu includes every possible AV output you could want, including HDMI.

The Vudu includes every possible AV output you could want, including
HDMI.
The rear panel also hosts a little 4-inch antenna, but it's not for
Wi-Fi. The antenna interfaces with Vudu's unique remote. The contoured
clicker has a dual teardrop shape that fits perfectly in your hand (and
lefties will appreciate the fact that it's ambidextrous). Taking a cue
from Apple's intuitive product design, the Vudu remote has only five
buttons--power, back, home, more, and play/pause. But the big
innovation is a clickable mouse-style scroll wheel--it's used to
navigate the Vudu's onscreen menus, as well as to fast-forward and
rewind videos. The remote takes a minute or two to get used to; we were
fighting the urge to tilt the wheel left to move up through certain
menus--until we realized that's where the back button should be used.
Once you quickly figure it out, however, it becomes second nature.

The only drawback: while the RF (radio frequency) control
means you don't have to worry about line-of-sight issues--so, you can
lock the Vudu box
away in a cabinet if you'd like--the lack of an infrared sensor on the
device precludes the use of most universal remotes. Thankfully, Vudu has
added an IR
remote dongle to its lineup. It should offer interaction
with most programmable universal remotes, but the accessory will set you
back about $40.

The remote uses a click wheel for quick and easy access to the intuitive onscreen menu.

Vudu's first-time-out-of-the-box setup is about as simple as it gets for
a networked home entertainment product (assuming you have a nearby
Ethernet connection). If you use the included HDMI cable, the box can
have as few as three wires total: HDMI (to your receiver or TV), power,
and the network cable. After the initial power up, Vudu presents a
narrated onscreen walk-through that ensures you're getting working audio
and video signals and network connectivity, explains how to use the
remote, and helps you set up your Vudu account. Vudu does not charge a
monthly fee, but you must link a credit card to your Vudu account and
preset it to charge in increments of $20, $50, or $100; your rental fees
are then debited against those charges. Once it zeros out, your card is
recharged that preset amount, and the debit process begins again.

While basic setup is really easy, advanced users will appreciate a
variety of expert options, including video, audio, and network tweaks.
For instance, stereo or surround signals can be prioritized for HDMI
output, specific high-definition resolutions can be set, and Vudu's data stream
can be prioritized on your home network. We particularly liked the
flexible aspect ratio control (zoom, stretch, or full screen on 4x3 or
16x9 TVs) and the capability to customize the overscan setting.

Like Slingbox and TiVo products, there's no built-in Wi-Fi option on
the Vudu. If there's no nearby Ethernet connection, you'll need a
wireless bridge or powerline adapter to get the Vudu online. Vudu also
offers its own option: the Vudu Wireless
Kit is a pair of plug-and-play plastic bricks that
wirelessly communicate with one another. Plug one into the Vudu and
another into your home router (or any free Ethernet port on your
network), and you'll be good to go.

The interface
Of course, a video device such as the Vudu lives or dies by its onscreen
interface--and Vudu's got one of the better ones we've seen to date. It
lacks the fancy animations of the Apple TV interface, but it's far more
vibrant and interactive than the Roku Netflix Player, with a clean,
straightforward, and easy-to-navigate experience. Movies are represented
by their posters, and the menu has just five main areas: Most Watched;
New on Vudu; Explore catalog (where you can search by title, star,
director, or genre); My Vudu (films and TV shows you've already rented
or purchased); and Info & Settings (audio, video, and network setting
options, as described in the section above).

Maneuvering through each area is dead simple, thanks to the scroll-wheel
remote. Movies have full summaries and rating info, and they're all
cross-referenced by genre, stars, and director. And because all of that
info is essentially "hotlinked" (think IMDB), it's easy to navigate
between them--jump from Aliens to all Sigourney Weaver movies, for
example, or everything directed by James Cameron. (The resulting lists
are limited to titles available on Vudu--not the entertainers' entire
filmographies.)

Once a video is started (rented or purchased), it can be paused,
rewound, and (once it's fully downloaded) fast-forwarded. A DVR-style
progress bar is shown when any of those controls is engaged, and you can
rewind and fast-forward as quickly or as slowly as you spin the click
wheel. If you leave a movie, it will automatically resume right where
you left off (assuming, for rentals, that you return to it within the
24-hour viewing window). But the key is the instant gratification that
Vudu offers, which differs from the "queue and view" methods employed by
Amazon On Demand and Apple TV/iTunes, as well as older Internet
video-on-demand solutions such as Akimbo.

Using Vudu: Renting and buying movies and TV shows
When you've settled on a movie or TV show you'd like to view, you'll
often have several choices, depending on the type of content: resolution
(SD/480p, HD or HDX--more on that later); version (in cases where
there's, say, a theatrical or unrated director's cut); and whether you
want to rent or buy. Not all content is available in all formats; some
are standard-def only, and some content--especially new movies--is often
limited to purchase-only for several weeks, after which it becomes
available as a rental as well. Movies rent for $1 to $6 each, with newer
and HD titles skewing at the top of the price scale; you can also buy
them--that is, have them live on the hard drive "forever"--for $5 to $20
(purchases are standard-definition only). For the moment, TV episodes
are also SD only, and they can only be rented for $2 apiece.

About The Author

John P. Falcone is the executive editor of CNET Reviews, where he coordinates a group of more than 20 editors and writers based in New York and San Francisco as they cover the latest and greatest products in consumer technology. He's been a CNET editor since 2003.